Method of bridging partial tightness on movable members

ABSTRACT

A method of bridging partial tightnesses of movable members which are received in guides and are driven by electric drive motors includes controlling of drive motors with a monitoring function, performing an automatic monitoring function automatically, and varying a releasing force inside a tightness region in at least one step.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of monitoring a partialtightness on movable members, such as for example window panes ormovable roof. These components of motor vehicles are provided inincreased numbers in the electrical drive which are operatable remotely.Tightness occurs when, for example, wind deflectors which are arrangedbefore the movable roofs are subjected to increased air resistance whiletraveling with increased traveling speed. In these situations anactuation of removable roof occurs.

[0002] A manual bridging functions are provided for electrical drivesutilized for actuation of window panes or movable roofs, so that thedriven displaceable members at the location of a tightness can be movedby hand over the tightness location. A manual engagement of the operatorduring driving of a vehicle distracts it and can lead to criticaltraveling situations, in which the driver may not pay undividedattention to the traffic.

[0003] In other embodiments of the window panes or movable roofs,reference runs are provided in the movable systems. The reference runsload not insignificantly the electrical drive, since they have acalibration function. Reference runs moreover are time consuming, andduring the reference runs not all operations occur, which later duringoperation of the window panes or movable roofs can occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea method of bridging of partial tightness of movable members, whichavoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0005] In keeping with these objects and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, brieflystated, in a method of bridging partial tightness of a movable members,in accordance with which an automatic monitoring function is provided,and within a tightness region a releasing force is varied in one orseveral steps.

[0006] With the inventive solution, an automatic bridging function isutilized, which corresponds to the rotary speed course. An automaticallyoperating control operates so that only in the small limited region ofthe bridging location which is identified as such, the releasing forceis increased by a certain amount. When a one-time increase of thereleasing force is not sufficient for a certain amount to overcome thetightness location, then it is increased by automatic bridging functionin a stepped manner in several starting routines to a maximum value.When with a releasing force below the maximum releasing force, theovercoming of the tightness location is performed, then the releasingforce required for overcoming the obsticle is stored in an adaptivestorage unit. The maximum value of the releasing force can be preset onthe automatic bridging function, so that depending on the application,predetermined maximum releasing forces are provided or can be allowed.Also the step widths at which the reducing force is raised within thestarting routine in a stepped manner can be preselected variably for theautomatic bridging function.

[0007] The stepped increase of the releasing force can be embedded forexample in a first run to an obstacle with subsequent reversing of thedrive. If the obstacle is located outside of the region in which thetightless location is localized, the drive is reversed. If the tightnesslocation is inside the back window, the releasing force is increasedonly in the region in which the tightness location is provided. Afterseveral starts and runs on the obstacle, a stepped increase of thereleasing force in the region of the back window is provided, until themaximum fixed releasing force is achieved.

[0008] When the obstacle representing the tightness location is finallyovercome without reversing of the electrical drive, the rotary speedadaptation can be adjusted to the changed obstacle. The releasing forcewhich directly overcomes the obstacle or the rotary speed adaptation canbe stored in a storage which is associated with the automatic bridgingfunction.

[0009] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a view showing a rotary speed course of an electricdrive with a tightness location to be overcome; and

[0011]FIG. 2 is a view showing a bridging function as a statusautomating system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a rotary speed course of an electric drive with atightness location to be overcome.

[0013]FIG. 1 shows both the adjusting rotary speed break on theelectrical drive, and also the releasing force increase released by thepassage of a tightness region 4.1. The rotary speed course I over thepath 2 is plotted above in FIG. 1 in the rotary speed/path diagram. Inthe tightness region 4.1 to be overcome a rotary speed break isprovided. It extends not on a discrete location of a traveling path 2,but instead over a traveling path region 4.1. With the inventiveproposed procedure, the force which is required for overcoming thetightness region 4.1 is increased in stepped fashion, until the drivenmember to be moved, for example a window pane or a movable roof,smoothly passes the tightness region 4.1 without reversing theelectrical drive.

[0014] In the lower region of the diagram of FIG. 1, the releasing force3 is plotted over the path 2. In the upper diagram of FIG. 1 thetightness region 4.1 is transmitted to the lower diagram. Within thetightness region 4.1 which releases an automatic bridging function, astepped increase of the releasing force is provided. After this, a newstart of the tightness region 4.1 with increased releasing force takesplace. The increased releasing force has its limit in the preset maximumpermissible value of the releasing force which is predetermined on theautomatic bridging function. The maximum value for the releasing forceis identified in the lower diagram of FIG. 1 with reference numeral 9.Depending on the predetermined releasing force increase steps, thestarting routines 15, 19 shown in FIG. 2 are performed so often, until nrequired releasing force increase steps are worked off. In an adaptivestorage system the predetermined releasing force value 5 can beoverwritten by such value for the releasing force, which allows toovercome directly the tightness region 4.1 for the movable member.

[0015] The rotary speed of an electric drive can be adapted to a partialtightness, such as for example the one which can occur with winddeflectors on removable roofs. The rotary speed values adapted to theactual conditions can be stored in the storage system.

[0016] From the consideration of the bridging function as a conditionautomated system of FIG. 2, it can be seen that, starting from the startand an aim, or an end point of the processing of the automatic bridgingfunction routine, a first clamping inquiry 13 and performed. When thiscondition of the movable member is recognized, the position of theregion 4.1 is stored, the time limiter is set and the electrical driveis reversed. This is performed by a clamping parameter storage 14, fromwhich the monitoring block 12 which contains in the condition automaticsystem 10 is branched. There a first clamping force increase 16 isperformed, which is transmitted then by the control of the electricaldrive in the first starting routine 15 to the movable member. It ismonitored whether inside the first run starting routine 15 the course ofthe electrical drive is ended normally, or the new clamping situationoccurs. If the motor running ends normally, the increase of the clampingforce which is performed in the position 16 in the monitoring block isagain retaken.

[0017] When to the contrary, within the first running routine 15 to beperformed the running of the electrical drive ends not normally, a newclamping situation occurs. The new clamping situation is verified by anadditional inquiry 19 in the monitoring block 12. The second clampinginquiry 13 with a positive result activates a new clamping increase atthe position 18, so that now after the resulting processing of the firststarting routine 15, the second starting routine 19 can be performedwith an increased value for the clamping force to be applied. After theincrease of the releasing force and performing of the second startingroutine 19, a testing 21 is performed of the condition, whether theelectrical drive ends its running normally or it comes again to theclamping situation. Thereafter, the new clamping force increase 18 istaken, before the starting or aiming point 11 is branched.

[0018] In addition to the starting routines 15, 19 which can beperformed with different releasing forces, the monitoring block 12monitors whether for example a previously set motor stoppage time of forexample 10 seconds is exceeded or not. If it is exceeded, the startingor aiming inquiry point 11 is branched, and the automatic bridgingfunction is set back. A setting back of the automatic bridging functioncan be performed when during the inquiry 25 of the control of theelectrical drive, a rotary speed reverse on the electrical drive occurs.During the occurrence of a rotary direction reverse, the movable member,whether a window pane or a movable roof, is moved back to its openposition. Also, in the closed position of the corresponding movablemember, the automatic bridging function 10 is set back.

[0019] The diagram of FIG. 2 shows a course of the automatic bridgingfunction.

[0020] First a first start on an obstacle which produces a tightness isperformed. The electrical drive for driving the member to be moved isreversed and the member moves out of the tightness region if theobstacle must lie outside of the tightness region 4.1.

[0021] If the obstacle is located in the tightness region 4.1, theelectrical drive is reversed. By means of the automatic bridgingfunction, an increase of the releasing force is performed for example asF>100 N. Thereafter a new start of the member to be moved is performedin the tightness region by running of the first starting routine 15. Ifit comes again to a clamping situation, by running of the secondstarting routine 19, a second run with a stepped increase of thereleasing force is performed, to overcome the obstacle represented bythe tightness region 4.1. These starts are performed with acorresponding stepped increase of the releasing force until the steppedincrease releasing force assumes the predetermined maximum value of thereleasing force 9 (compare FIG. 1). If the obstacle can be finallyovercome, the releasing force can be stored and associated with thecorresponding path region 4.1 on which the tightness region 4.1 wasfound. In this way a force threshold adapted to the movement path to beovercome is adjusted for the releasing force, so that the electricaldrive which drives the member to be moved is adapted to the tightnessregion 4.1 in the sense of the rotary speed and the releasing force. Thepath portion 2 to be covered is driven with a predetermined releasingforce 5, and during detection of the previously stored tightness region4.1 the electrical drive is operated with a stepped increased releasingforce.

[0022] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together, may also find a useful application in othertypes of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0023] While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in method of bridging partial tightness on movable members, itis not intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0024] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist of the present invention that others can, by applying currentknowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of thisinvention.

[0025] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A method of bridging partial tightnesses of movable members which arereceived in guides and are driven by electric drive motors, comprisingthe steps of controlling drive motors with a monitoring function;providing an automatic monitoring function by automatically operatingcontrol; and varying a releasing force inside a tightness region in atleast one step.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said varyingincludes varying the releasing force in a plurality of steps.
 3. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein said automatically operatingcontrol includes increasing the releasing force at a position of thetightness region.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein saidautomatically operating control includes changing a rotary speed of themovable member.
 5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein saidautomatically operating control includes a stepped increase of thereleasing force by a first starting routine and a second startingroutine.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said automaticallyoperating control includes providing a closing force limiting.
 7. Amethod as defined in claim 1; and further comprising branding amonitoring for starting and aiming point, after which a predeterminedtime period is cast out or a rotary speed reverse of electrical drive isprovided.
 8. A method as defined in claim 4; and further comprisingperforming said first starting routine and said second starting routineso that when the releasing force is increased until it reaches a setmaximum releasing force and a value which overcomes the tightness regionis stored in an adaptive storage.
 9. A method as defined in claim 1; andfurther comprising setting back the automatic bridging function when themember to be moved reaches a corresponding closing position.
 10. Amethod as defined in claim 1; and further comprising setting back theautomatic bridging function when a stoppage of an electrical driveexceeds a predetermined time period.
 11. A method as defined in claim 1;and further comprising setting back the automatic bridging function whenan opposite direction of an electrical drive is controlled.